William Lewis Kitchens

William Lewis Kitchens of Newport Beach, California, died at home Oct 4 at the age of 80. Bill

was born March 16, 1929, the eldest son of Jennings Bryan (Kit) and Edith Mae (Polly)

Kitchens of Tucson, Arizona. After a year at University of Arizona, he attended University of

Colorado, Boulder on a R.O.T.C. Scholarship. 1952 was a big year: He earned his B.S. in

Electrical Engineering, was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, and married Joan

Marya Buckland. Bill left the service in 1955. Following his discharge Bill and Joan moved to

the Costa Mesa/Newport Beach area, where they raised a family of five children. After working

for Beckman Instruments, in 1964 Bill and two colleagues founded an electronics company,

IKL Incoporated.

Bill embraced life with gusto. He loved sailboat racing and cruising and was an active member

and Staff Commodore of South Shore Sailing Club. He enjoyed the outdoors and wildlife of the

desert and sea was an accomplished hunter, fisherman and diver. Bill savored both camping and

road trips.